Sarah Palin: John McCain’s bridge to somewhere?
DENVER — Alaska has been John McCain’s whipping boy as a recipient of taxpayer largesse, notably that infamous bridge to nowhere earmark aiming to spend $200 million connecting the Alaskan mainland to an island of 50 people. 
That’s neither here nor there, but in picking Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain took a decidedly unconventional and bold path in hopes of competing this fall in what has been shaping up as a Democratic year.
There are many ways to look at this, and my colleague Deirdre Shesgreen noted beneath McCain’s tactical effort to grab some some of those disaffected, indeed angry, Hillary Clinton supporters.
But I think that part of his choice was to establish some of that buzz we see surrounding Barack Obama.
The campaign was shaping up as Obama’s ground game fueled by grass-roots excitement against McCain’s air war conducted with masterful and sometimes deceptive ads.
Palin is a surprising pick without question, an indication that the McCain forces decided that they clearly needed to shake things up.
She’s an appealing choice in so many ways: a mother of five (including a 4-month old with Down’s Syndrome); a reformer like McCain who took on the old bulls of Alaska politics; someone to help out McCain in the demographically changing West; a hero in the anti-abortion movement; and someone who would immediately generates a whole lot more buzz than a known commodity like Mitt Romney.
In addition, McCain gets to wave the flag of change.
Of couse, her paucity of experience (two years in office) will be a question when it comes to becoming a heartbeat away from a White House run by the oldest man ever elected to the presidency.
If the fight against terrorism is the issue of this era, can a woman who is barely removed from being the mayor of a tiny Alaskan town handle such a challenge? (Even if she totes a gun.)
There’s the question, too, of whether putting a former beauty contest runner-up on his ticket will spice it up or highlight the contrast with 72-year-old guy.
That said, she’s a maverick in the McCain mold, allowing the GOP to double down this fall on the mantra of reform.
It’s a gamble, one that might pay off handsomely.
No. John McCain’s Bridge to Oblivion.
I love the people trying to use the experience rap on her. How can you compain about a one term governor as veep and not at the same time complain more about a 1 term senator as the top man? It’s ridiculous. In actuality she has more experience as an administrator than the other three who are legilators.
To play the Barack Obama line about race, whats with questioning her ability as a woman already too? Can a woman deal with questions about the fight against terrorism? Seriously?
This is a great pick. I’m excited about this election, finally.
Yes, Palin was such a maverick “taking on the old bulls” that she just campaigned on behalf of corrupt Alaska US Senator Ted Stevens. And she’s under investigation herself for a vendetta against an ex-brother in law who’s a state trooper.
To all the Republicans who felt Democratic women should be outrage by the so- called snub of Clinton for VP, why this particular woman and not one with more than a year of experience as Gov of Alaska. Where is the outrage over the passing over of Condi Rice, K.B. Hutchison, C.T. Whitman, et al. A republican govenor from a state with indicted republicans by the likes of Ted Stevens and Don Young. Truly the outrage should be pouring forth… I am waiting.
I just watched Palin’s announcement from Dayton, and it was incredible. She was genuine, warm, and powerful. I almost wish she was on the top of the ticket. But McCain-Palin is a powerful team that will bring true reform to Washington.
To you lefties who would try to tar her with the corruption which has affected other Alaskan Republicans, I just say quit with the lies. Palin is one who has stood steadily in opposition to Alaska’s Republican establishment - She defeated incumbent Governor and Alaska Republican power broker Frank Murkowski in a primary, running on a theme of reform. And as Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, she blew the whistle on Republican corruption. Resigning in protest, she blew the whistle on the chairman of the Alaskan Republican Party, who ultimately resigned from the commission and paid a $12,000 fine for ethical violations Palin exposed.
Both McCain and Palin are against earmarks. That’s the likely reason for choosing her.
A government that recognizes the money it has to spend is “our money” not theirs, is long overdue. Earmarks are nothing more than bribes, paid by the taxpayer without their consent.
If Palin is so great on ethics reform, why is she so cozy with Ted Stevens?
Another thing - in her speech today, she said she opposed the “Bridge to Nowhere”, but when she was running for governor, she said she supported it and was concerned that the federal money was getting there too slow.
Although we know nothing substantial about her, we do know how she feels about Obama’s energy plans:
We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home,” Governor Palin said. “This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board.”
She is a fantastic candidate for McCain to run with; praising the Democratic candidates energy plan and also an indicted republican senator in one quote (whom also supported her run for governor)
Nick,
The woman herself is under investigation plus, don’t you family value hypocrites think that her time would be better utilized at home with her just born Downs Syndrome baby?
Of couse, her paucity of experience (two years in office) will be a question when it comes to becoming a heartbeat away from a White House
Bill, are you sure you want to go there? She has more experience than Obambi in running a state and a city and Obambi IS the presidential nominee. Cheney is the only VP that got involved in foreign policy and look what that got us. I have complete confidence that McCain will pick an experienced person as Secy of State.
Obambi’s total foreign policy experience was visiting his family in Kenya in 2006 and giving a speech to German voters. Whup dee doo! He has been too busy running for President since 2006 to bother going to any Foreign Relations meetings.